Coupling device for oil wells



P. H. BURLIN.

COUPLING DEVICE FOR 0". WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. I921.

Patented May 9, 1922.

IIIWH INVENTOR.

PORTER H. BURLIN, or LIMESTONE, NEW YORK.

\ COUPLING DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS.

Application filed May 25,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Pon'rnn H. BURLIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Limestone, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have in vented a Coupling Device for Oil Wells, of which the following is a fulland complete specification.

In the construction of an oil well the tub ing through which the oil is pumped eX- tends from thesurface of the ground into the well to a point above the bottom thereof with theipump-piston located in the lower portion of said tubing, and for the purpose of. supporting this tubing a casing or stock is provided above the ground. The present construction and arrangement of the coupling for supporting the tubing, as well as the connections for the lead line or pipe cou veying the oil to the storage tank and for the gland. through which the operating rod passes, are such that they are liable to injury and serious damage from the operation of the rod and. the effect of intense heart In case of fire being communicated to the oil accumulated around the casing or stock from the leaky joints loosened by the operation of the aforesaid rod, often times resulting in the tubing being disclomieclted from its supporting connection and dropped into the well. When the tubing drops it requires the tedious and expensive operation of fishing it out, and in some instances this operation is unsuccessful on account ofthe fallen tubing becoming so badly jammed or bent that it cannot be withdrawn, in which event the well becomes useless. Owing to the liability of the tubing becoming disconnected from its support from the above mentioned causes it is customary to provide a device, termed a catcher which operates to catch and hold the tubing from dropping into the well.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a coupling device of particular construction which will effectually overcome the dangers and objections presented by the couplings and connections now employed with the casing or stock, whereby to not only safely protect the tubing connection in case of fire but also reduce to a minimum the possibility of leakage and consequent loss of oil through loose joints.

A further object of my invention is to provide a particular form of coupling device Specification of Letters Patent.

of an oil well, including Patented May 9, 1922. 1921. Serial No. 472,431.

which will be simple and compact in construction. to take the place of the numerous couplings and connections heretofore employed and permit of a more convenient c011- ncction between the operating-rod and j ack.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear, and what I claim as new is more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper part the casing or stock and connections ordinarily employed at the upper end of the well tubing.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the application of my improved coupling device in connection with the casing or stock.

1* ig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, to show the application of. the coupling device to the casing.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views of the coupling device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawings.

In constructing the upper part of an oil well to conduct the oil from the well tubing and. provide for the passage of the operating rod carrying the pump-line it is customary to provide acasing or stock 10, provided with a head 11 in which is seated an annular flanged disk 12 held in place by a setscrew 13. and into this annular disk is fitted a flanged ring 1 1 supporting thereon a collar 15 from which the well tubing 21 is suspended, the said collar also carrying a nipple 16 to which is connected a T-coupling 17 for the connection of the lead line 18 at one side and an extension 19 at top for the gland 19 through which works the operating-rod 20 connected to the pumping-jack (not shown). The arrangement just described, and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings is common to an ordinary oil well.

In carrying out my invention to simplify the arrangement at the upper end of the easing or stock and eliminate the objections to the ordinary connections I provide a coupling device 25, the body portion of which. is provided at its lower end with a substantial annular flange 26 providing a supporting shoulder from which depends an extension 25 internally threaded at its lower end to receive the upper end of the welltubing 21, said extension being cylindrical and of disk to accomplish this purpose it is preferably made of steel, and the depending lower portion below the shoulder is of such length that its threads and those at the upper end of the well-tubing will be located within the casing below the head thereof, to be thereby protected from heat in case the platform which is usually provided around the casing or stock should catch fire and burn;

it being understood that the provision of the said coupling device practically eliminates the possibility of leakage of oil as in the case of the connections usually employed, such as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The application of my improved coupling device will be readily understood by reference tothe drawings, for it is constructed to be used In connection w1tl1 the ordinary v casing, casing-head and flanged disk, and

being fitted in the latter provides for connecting the lead line pipe directly above the casing and locating the packing for the operating-rod at the upper end of said coupling; whereby a compact arrangement is provided at the upper end of the well-tubing and the usual number of joints that are liable to become loose and leak are dispensed with. The coupling device also provides for more conveniently locating the pumpingjack, as the usually high foundation for the same is not required in the present instance.

As will be obvious the use of my improved coupling device will result in a safe and i more economical operation of the oil well, inasmuch as leakage will be eliminated and a practically indestructible joint or connection provided for supporting the well-tubing so that it will not be liable to drop into the well.

The size of the coupling device will of course depend upon the size of the well-tubing with which it is employed, and therefore it may be made in different sizes. Also, instead of providing internal threads for the pipe connections external threads may be used, but in case the depending portion which receives the well-tubing is externally threaded a plain external surface must be provided immediately below the shoulder to receive the flanged annular disk on,the casing-head.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A coupling device for oil wells .in one piece ora single casting comprising a body portion having an outwardly projecting flange at its lower end providing a shoulder, an integral tube-receiving portion extending from said shoulder throughout of approximately the same diameter as said body portion threaded to receive the upper end of the well tubing and having a plain external sur face immediately below the shoulder, a pipe connection projecting from one side of the body portion, and a threaded integral tubular extension on the body portion above the connection to receive a gland nut; said coupling device being adapted for use in connection with a casing-head and an annular disk secured in the upper end of said casing-head and upon which said coupling device is seated, as herein shown and described.

PORTER l-l. BU RLIN. 

